The double-mass curve (Hindall 1991), a cumulative plot of one hydrologic variable versus another over time (Fig.

3-3), is another easy graphical technique for examining trends in a time series. Although the double mass curve in Fig. 3-3 shows a plot of precipitation versus streamflow, one could also plot a hydrologic time series known to be stationary versus the time series for another river. If the time series for the second river is stationary, the double mass plot will appear as a straight line. In the case of the trend illustrated in Fig. 3-3, the slope should be relatively constant over all of the years if the flow trend was related to precipitation. The break in slope in Fig. 3-3 indicates a change in water yield from the watershed, because the amount of runoff from each precipitation event increased during that time period. (The change in runoff resulted from the 1968 failure of two small flood control reservoirs in the headwaters.)

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continuation to the Adjustment of Streamflow Data topic

continuation to Mean Annual Runoff

Define: Conduit
a natural or artificial channel through which

something (as a fluid) is conveyed

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Define: Runoff

GEOGRAPHY water not absorbed by soil: rainfall that

does not soak into the soil but flows into surface

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Define: reservoir

A reservoir , artificial

lake or impoundment from a dam is used to store water. Reservoirs may be created in river valleys by the construction of a dam or may be built by excavation in the ground or by conventional construction techniques such as brickwork or cast concrete. The term reservoir may also be used to describe naturally occurring underground reservoirs such as those beneath an oil or water well.

Define: Diversion
change of direction: a change in the direction or

path of

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Define: Levee
A levee, dike (or dyke), embankment, floodbank

or stopbank is an elongated naturally occurring ridge or artificially constructed fill or wall, which regulates water levels. It is usually earthen and often parallel to the course of a river in its floodplain or along low-lying coastlines. natural embankment beside river: a natural embankment alongside a river, formed by sediment during times of flooding artificial embankment beside river: an artificial embankment alongside a river, built to prevent flooding of the surrounding
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These data are continuous records of discharge, frequently measured in permanent structures such as flumes and weirs.

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Define: deficiency
deficiency [dfns]n pl -cies1. - the state or quality of being deficient - a lack or insufficiency; shortage

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Interpretation of Data